I knew I wanted to make a turkey craft for kids’ roundup. What I didn’t realize is how much I would be smitten with these adorable ideas! My brain is in full-on turkey mode. And with Thanksgiving right around the corner, there’s no better time to get seasonally crafty with your kids!
There so many cute Thanksgiving activities for kids on Pinterest that it can be overwhelming actually to choose what to do. (This is where I come in, wink, wink). We love using at least one DIY turkey craft as a decoration around our home for a sweet, one-of-a-kind handmade touch. So, if you’re searching for ideas to keep your kids busy, learning, and creative this Thanksgiving season, check out this list of 25 easy turkey crafts for kids!
RELATED: Our Thanksgiving Kids Activity Table is the ultimate way to keep your kids busy and entertained this Thanksgiving!
How to make a turkey craft
Making a turkey craft is easy. When making a turkey craft, consider a turkey’s recognizable features such as feathers, feet, the gobbler, body, and unique facial characteristics. Putting all the feathers, construction paper, and glue sticks aside, remember that your kids only care about the basics of a turkey. Let them take the lead!
A turkey’s recognizable features to include in a turkey craft are:
- feathers
- feet
- gobbler
- turkey body
- turkey’s facial features (eyes, nose, mouth)
Turkey crafts are a learning activity.
As with most crafts for kids, turkey crafts can be a learning opportunity! Research has shown that seasonal and holiday-themed crafts are important for childhood development. Like many seasonal crafts and activities, making Thanksgiving turkey crafts is a fantastic hands-on way to help kids develop their fine motor skills and creativity.
Benefits of turkey crafts:
- Coloring and painting
- Gluing
- Letter recognition
- Number awareness
- Scissor skills
- Sensory awareness
- Tracing
Simple supplies needed for turkey crafts
Turkey crafts require minimal art supplies. You don’t need to run out to the craft store to spend tons of money on specific craft supplies to make Thanksgiving turkeys. Now is not the time for that (especially if you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner).
PRO TIP: Get creative with what you have!
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Basic turkey craft supplies:
- Construction paper
- Feathers
- Glue
- Nature findings (pine cones, leaves)
- Paper plates
- Scissors
- Yarn
RELATED: Use an art cart to organize all of your arts and crafts supplies — you’ll thank me later for this one!
Turkey craft ideas for kids
This turkey craft ideas and activities list for kids is fantastic for all ages! Whether you’re looking for an arts and crafts project, game, or letter activity, there is something for everyone.
Watercolor Turkey Place Settings
I am a sucker for kid artwork, and putting this on the Thanksgiving table is a no-brainer for me. It reminds children they are included in the family unit and represented on the day we all share thanks.
Paper Bag Turkey Craft
Make this turkey craft out of leftover paper bags and construction paper that are super cute to hang as Thanksgiving decor.
Turkey Table Template
Use this printable template to make adorable little turkeys that your kids can color, decorate, and even personalize to look like them.
Paper Plate Turkey Craft
Decorate paper plates using paint and construction paper to make these little turkeys for toddlers and preschoolers.
Sight Word Turkeys
Develop letter recognition and sight words with this simple turkey sight word activity that is great for kindergarteners and big kids.
Nature Leaf Turkey
Trace and cut out handprints and decorate with fall leaves to make this darling turkey craft.
Hilarious Yarn Turkey
This yarn-covered turkey project involves creating a textured turkey body and head using colorful yarn segments and foam paper accents. With easy-to-follow instructions and a focus on creativity, this craft is perfect for kids and creates a festive activity.
Fork Painted Turkey
Who knew forks made such great painting tools? Make creatively painted turkeys using forks to paint the feathers of a turkey.
Turkey Trot Board Game
We love making this simple turkey game for preschool to get your little ones counting and practicing their number recognition.
Pine Cone Turkey Craft
Pine cones make the best turkey bodies! Send your kids outside to collect pine cones to decorate as little turkeys while they develop fine motor skills with beads.
Paper Turkey Craft
Make a 3-D cone-shaped turkey using construction paper and colored feathered pipe cleaners.
Retell Turkey Trouble
Practice story retelling using the classic book, Turkey Trouble by Wendy Silvano, to open up a conversation about Thanksgiving.
Turkey Sensory Bottle
This sensory bottle craft is the ultimate activity for both art lovers and sensory play fans!
Pool Noodle Turkeys
Now that summer is over, use those leftover pool noodles, feathers, and googly eyes to make silly little turkeys.
Tissue Paper Turkeys
Grab some tissue paper, a paper plate, and a few other simple supplies to make this adorable turkey craft.
Family Handprint Turkey
Create a family craft that you will want to save by using all of your family’s handprints to make a colorful handprint turkey while kids practice tracing and cutting skills.
Clay Pot Turkey
Your kids will love transforming a pot into a cute Thanksgiving turkey. Why not make a bunch?
Pom Pom Turkey
These adorable pom pom turkeys can be used as festive puppets or a sweet kid-made decoration for the Thanksgiving table!
Paper Plate Turkey Wreath
An easy paper plate turkey craft to make with kids in the classroom or at home. It makes a cute Thanksgiving decoration.
Turkey Name Activity
I love it when a craft doubles as a fine motor and name recognition activity. The kids will gobble up these feather-letter name turkeys.
Construction Paper Turkey
Use construction paper in a whole new way by bending it to make a 3-D turkey.
Cardboard Turkey
An easy cardboard turkey activity that is perfect for “whatever” you have in the craft box.. in fact.. it is a great opportunity to use it all up and start fresh in the new year. Comes with a free template too!
Chalk Turkey
Kids will use colorful chalk pastels on black paper to create this vibrant turkey craft!
Salt Dough Turkeys
Add a little science to your crafting this Thanksgiving with these Salt Dough and Chromatography Turkeys.
Tie Dye Turkey Craft
This will go down as the most colorful turkey craft you make this season! Tie dye paper towels to make one-of-a-kind rainbow feathers.
Cardboard Turkey Names
Develop fine motor skills and name recognition using this cute little cardboard turkey craft.
Your kids need to make turkey crafts!
Keep your kids crafty this Thanksgiving with any or all of these easy turkey crafts for kids! And don’t forget to display their little works of art around your home.
Seasonal Activity Cards
No more searching for ideas. Here’s exactly what you need to celebrate fall, Halloween, winter, and Noon Year’s Eve.
You will ADORE these 20 all-new ideas.
FAQs for turkey crafts
Thanksgiving crafts for kids include paper plate turkeys, gratitude pumpkins, thankful fall trees, leaf turkeys, yarn turkey table centerpieces, fork-painted turkeys, pine cone crafts, and pool noodle turkeys.
Making a turkey craft is easy. You can use construction paper, plates, feathers, and even leftover cardboard to craft simple and colorful Thanksgiving turkeys.
Kids can learn so much from making turkey crafts. Turkey crafts are a great way to teach your kids about Thanksgiving as well as practice various fine motor skills.
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